The Hindu             17.02.2014

Thyagaraya Road gets a makeover

At last, Thyagaraya Road in T. Nagar looks like a six-lane stretch.

After
the relocation of roadside vendors, the road that stretches from
Panagal Park to Anna Salai-Teynampet junction looks broad and wide.
Traffic markings indicate that it indeed is a six-lane road but for
years, it remained clogged as vendors had occupied a part of the road,
mainly the Pondy Bazaar stretch.

Now, the vendors are
slowly moving into the shopping complex built by the Chennai
Corporation. On Sunday, all shops on the first floor were open. On the
other floors, only a few shops were open. Despite the relocation
however, there is the possibility that some of the hawkers could go back
to the road.

Already, half-a-dozen shops sell their
wares from outside the complex despite being allotted space inside.
Hawkers in the complex allege that some shops have been sub-let.
However, Mohammed Hakim, secretary of Rajiv Gandhi Footpath Shops
Association that represents footpath shops on Usman Road, said all shops
allotted to them have been taken.

“I have a shop on
the second floor and sell belts and footwear. Some of them don’t have
the money to establish their shops and are taking time setting them up,”
he explained. According to Mr. Hakim, all persons who have been
allotted space will move in within two months and the rest of the
hawkers must approach the government and seek relocation.

Shopkeepers
say they are yet to form an association but on each floor, the
occupants have appointed a person to sweep and mop the floors every day.
“We collect a small amount every month towards maintenance of our
space,” said S. Syed Ibrahim, who sells curtains.

The
T. Nagar Residents’ Welfare Association members, however, are still
sceptical. “We are fed up with the government and police inaction. We
are worried that the expansion plan for the Usman Road flyover will
result in more hawkers,” said K. Swaminathan, a resident of Usman Road.